Participation through Quality Circles –
Quality circles consists of seven to ten people from the same work area who meet regularly to define, analyse, and solve quality and related problem in their area. Membership is strictly voluntary, and meetings are usually held once a week, for an hour. During the groups initial meetings; members are trained in problem-solving techniques borrowed form group-,dynamics, industrial engineering and quality control. These techniques include brainstorming, Pareto, analysis, cause-and-effect analysis, histograms, control chart, stratification and scatter diagrams.
Quality circles are credited with producing quick, concrete and impressive result when correctly implemented. Their advantages include the following.
- Employees are involved in decision making. This privilege makes them acquire communication, and analytical skills and improve the efficiency at the workplace.
- Savings –to-costs ratios generally are higher than those achieved with other productivity – improvement programmes.
- Because the programme is voluntary, employees and unions generally do not view them as another cost-control effort.
- Circle members enhance their chances of promotion to supervisory positions
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